[nabs-l] My Blindness Philosophy is Better than Yours

Mon Jun 13 15:02:12 UTC 2016

Hahaha! I think you are right. I use a computer with refreshable braille, or readers, so I use extended test time. But I remember people getting quite upset about it at my NFB state convention, so I just wondered how people felt about it. :) 

Kennedy Stomberg 
(218)295-2391 

> On Jun 12, 2016, at 10:13 AM, justin via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I used necessary accommodations in college which were related to blindness,
> but I don't do that in social situations.  It is very important to avoid
> cutting  the line, or using my visual disability to gain an unfair social
> advantage in a social situation.  I can't think of many social situations
> for me where blindness is something that should be accommodated for outside
> of a movie or something like that in a theater.  I'm sure they exist, and I
> just am not pulling them up right now. 
> I avoid using ramps, and other accommodations related to other disabilities,
> or even blindness accommodations I don't need so everyone who needs them can
> have fair resources. 
> Ps.
> Some of you folks tried to give me a hard time when I was using some of my
> accommodations in college.  Do any of you remember that?
> It was about extended test times which I used anytime I took a test.
> Kenedy, use that extended time....
> LOL
> Justin
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Karl Martin
> Adam via NABS-L
> Sent: Monday, June 13, 2016 10:13 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Karl Martin Adam <kmaent1 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] My Blindness Philosophy is Better than Yours
> 
> Kennedy,
> 
> I think extended testing time is related to blindness depending on how
> you're taking the test.  I took most of my tests with readers, and it just
> takes longer to have a reader read the question then tell them your answer
> make sure they heard you correctly (my first ever exam at college I got one
> question wrong because the reader heard B instead of D, so I've been very
> careful about this since) etc.  And of course it takes even longer if you're
> say dictating short answers to a reader instead of just having them fill out
> a scantron.
> 
> Best,
> Karl
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: KENNEDY STOMBERG via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Mon, 13 Jun 2016 08:24:08 -0500
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] My Blindness Philosophy is Better than Yours
> 
> I think you bring up a very good point. When are acomidations offerred as a
> result of blindness, and when are they offred because of steriotypes.
> For example, I think many of us have had the experience of being offerred a
> wheelchair at an airport. This is something I always refuse. But I don't
> know that it's a distinction that I make often enough... Definitely
> something to think about.
> However, some would  argue that taking accomidations such as extended
> testing time are not related to blindness. (Though, I happen to think they
> are, and that is something I take advantage
> of.) Definitely a very enteristing discussion.
> 
> Kennedy Stomberg
> (218)295-2391
> 
> On Jun 13, 2016, at 8:00 AM, Arielle Silverman via NABS-L
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Joe and all,
> This is a great topic, and one that I have some strong feelings about.
> Generally, as a blind person, I use accommodations that are related to  my
> blindness. I turn down accommodations that are meant for people  with other
> disabilities. These include cuts in lines, priority  seating, ramps and
> accessible restroom stalls. Although cuts in lines  and priority seating are
> offered to me as a blind person, my blindness  doesn't create a need for
> those accommodations. I recognize that there  are individuals with other
> disabilities who actually benefit from, and  sometimes require, such
> accommodations. The only reason I am offered  such accommodations is because
> of stereotypes linking blindness with  physical weakness. So, I turn these
> accommodations down. I do it  quietly, don't make a scene, but I do turn
> them down. I know people  with these other disabilities who say they are
> glad that I turn such  accommodations down so that they can use them. Of
> course, if I have a  temporary issue that limits my ability to stand or
> walk, such as when  I had a bad allergic blister on my foot a few years ago,
> then I will  accept such accommodations. I also recognize that for some
> blind  individuals other than me, such as those who use guide dogs,
> accommodations like priority seating or a larger bathroom stall might  be
> useful.
> The other piece of this, for me, involves following social rules of
> fairness. I believe in taking my proper turn in line. If something is
> first-come, first-served, and I get there first, I'll take it. 
> If I
> get to the gate first, of course I'll board first. But if I get to the
> gate in the middle, I will board in the middle, and not cut to the  front
> even if permitted to do so. For me this is a simple matter of  politeness.
> It is also a matter of integrity. If I am going to say  that I am equal to
> sighted people, then I need to behave that way.
> Again, I do it quietly. For me, it's not a matter of proving a point  or
> convincing others of anything. It's a matter of living up to my  personal
> values and allowing everyone around me to have fair access to  resources. I
> am very fortunate to have a sighted spouse who gets this,  and defends me
> when I turn down unneeded cutsin lines and other  special treatment.
> This is just my opinion and I welcome other views on this.
> Best, Arielle
> 
> On 6/13/16, Joshua Hendrickson via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
> I agree.  I'd say if you were able to board a bus before others would  be a
> good thing whether you were blind or not.  I certainly would have  gotten on
> the bus first.  When I used to take the Van Gelder bus from  Rockford to
> Chicago, the driver would help me find a seat on the bus.
> I never thought anything about it.  It was just nice to get my seat,  turn
> on my NLS player and listen to a book while the bus was on its  way to
> Chicago.
> 
> On 6/13/16, Joe Orozco via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Should a blind person use their disability to take advantage of social
> perks?
> I briefly touched on the following story elsewhere in these pages. It  has
> bearing on the current point though, so hang in there for a  moment.
> Back in college I was once traveling with a fellow blind friend on
> Greyhound. We happened to arrive at the gate before anyone else, but
> because my traveling companion was, probably still is, an ultra  independent
> blind person, they refused to board the bus first. 
> The bus
> driver was confused. Why would this person want to let other  passengers
> skip ahead when we'd beaten everyone else to the gate? The  bus driver
> couldn't understand my companion was refusing to get on the  bus ahead of
> everyone else on principle. Allowing persons with  disabilities to skip
> ahead in line is just something society expects,  and my companion,
> following their own philosophy of independence, was  not going to feed into
> that presumptive notion.
> I have always wondered about the rationale to this way of thinking.
> What is it about using certain social perks directly linked to
> disabilities that inspire such delicate feelings of inferiority?
> Perhaps we are afraid to look inept by jumping to the front of a line.
> That speaks to perception, and just as laws do not change minds  overnight,
> your position in line is not likely to automatically make  someone think you
> are any more or less capable by standing ahead or  behind. Do we really
> believe standing in the middle of the crowd will  somehow make us more a
> part of the people? Will that translate to  making us more approachable?
> More datable? More employable? Your  subsequent words and actions after
> getting in line are more likely to  have an influence over someone's opinion
> of you as a blind individual.
> Making a scene to be treated as an equal does not create equality. It
> creates a spectacle.
> 
> Read the rest of the article at:
> 
> 
> http://joeorozco.com/blog_my_blindness_philosophy_is_better_than_
> yours
> 
> Joe
> 
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